Card reader

Abstract

A card reader which makes it possible to read card data from a non-contact IC card, discharge a foreign substance inserted from a card insertion slit, sufficiently ensure the degree of freedom in design, and sufficiently prevent the size of the apparatus main body from becoming large. A coil-shaped circuit pattern is formed on an antenna substrate used as an antenna for radio communication with a non-contact IC card. A part located inside the coil-shaped circuit pattern is cut out to form an opening. Even if the antenna substrate is disposed below the card reader main body, therefore, a foreign substance such as a coin inserted from an insertion slit may be discharged from the opening of the antenna substrate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a principal part of a card reader;

FIGS. 2A-2D are schematic diagrams showing an internal structure of a card reader;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an antenna substrate in a card reader;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing card data reading processing in a card reader;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a principal part of a different card reader;

FIGS. 6A-6D are schematic diagrams showing an internal structure of a different card reader; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing card data reading processing in a different card reader.

Claims

1. A card reader which conducts reading and writing on a non-contact IC card having a radio communication function, by means of radio communication with the non-contact IC card, the card reader comprising: a frame member having an insertion path to guide the non-contact IC card inserted into a main body to a card data reading position; andan antenna substrate having a coil-shaped circuit pattern formed thereon to function as an antenna, the antenna substrate being attached to the frame member so as to cause the coil-shaped circuit pattern to be opposed to the non-contact IC card set in the card data reading position,wherein the antenna substrate has an opening inside the coil-shaped circuit pattern.

2. The card reader according to claim 1, further comprising a card data reader-writer disposed so as to be opposed to the antenna substrate with a non-contact IC card or a contact IC card set in the card data reading position between, and connected to contact terminals formed on a surface of the contact IC card to conduct reading or writing on the contact IC card.

3. The card reader according to claim 1, further comprising insertion and attachment parts to insert the antenna substrate into the main body and attach the antenna substrate to the main body.

4. The card reader according to claim 2, further comprising insertion and attachment parts to insert the antenna substrate into the main body and attach the antenna substrate to the main body.

5. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the antenna substrate is attached below the frame member.

6. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the coil-shaped circuit pattern takes a rectangular shape.

7. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein held parts are formed in end parts of the antenna substrate so as to be held by the frame member.